~CHOLERA~~CHOLERA~BYBY

MARIA MARTINEZMARIA MARTINEZ

~ WHAT IS CHOLERA? ~~ WHAT IS CHOLERA? ~ bacterial disease that affects the intestinal bacterial disease that affects the intestinal

tracttract caused by a germ called vibrio choleraecaused by a germ called vibrio cholerae Few cases are recognized in the United Few cases are recognized in the United

states each yearstates each year Epidemic levels of cholera have recently Epidemic levels of cholera have recently

been reported in parts of Central and South been reported in parts of Central and South AmericaAmerica

~ WHO GETS CHOLERA? ~ WHO GETS CHOLERA? ~~

A rare disease in U.S.A rare disease in U.S. Most at risk in the U.S.:Most at risk in the U.S.:

– People traveling to foreign countries People traveling to foreign countries where outbreaks are occurring where outbreaks are occurring

– People who consume raw or People who consume raw or uncooked sea food from warm uncooked sea food from warm coastal waters subject to sewage coastal waters subject to sewage contaminationcontamination

– In both instances the risk is smallIn both instances the risk is small

~HOW IS THE GERM ~HOW IS THE GERM SPREAD?~SPREAD?~

passed in the stoolspassed in the stools spread by eating or drinking food or spread by eating or drinking food or

water contaminated by the fecal water contaminated by the fecal waste of an infected personwaste of an infected person

occurs more often in underdeveloped occurs more often in underdeveloped countries lacking adequate water countries lacking adequate water supplies and proper sewage disposalsupplies and proper sewage disposal

~WHAT ARE THE ~WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CHOLERA?~SYMPTOMS OF CHOLERA?~

mild to severe diarrhea mild to severe diarrhea vomitingvomiting dehydration dehydration Fever is usually absentFever is usually absent dry skindry skin excessive thirstexcessive thirst lack of tearslack of tears low urine outputlow urine output abdominal crampsabdominal cramps

~HOW SOON DO ~HOW SOON DO SYMPTOMS APPEAR?~SYMPTOMS APPEAR?~

The symptoms may appear from a The symptoms may appear from a few hours to five days after few hours to five days after exposure.exposure.

~WHAT IS THE TREATMENT ~WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR CHOLERA?~FOR CHOLERA?~

rapid dehydration results from rapid dehydration results from severe diarrhea severe diarrhea

replacement of fluids by mouth or by replacement of fluids by mouth or by intravenous route is critical. intravenous route is critical.

Antibiotics, such as tetracycline, are Antibiotics, such as tetracycline, are also use to shorten the duration of also use to shorten the duration of diarrhea and preventing the germs in diarrhea and preventing the germs in the feces.the feces.

~IS THERE A VACCINE FOR ~IS THERE A VACCINE FOR CHOLERA?~CHOLERA?~

A vaccine is sometimes recommended A vaccine is sometimes recommended for travelers to certain foreign countries for travelers to certain foreign countries where cholera is occurring. where cholera is occurring.

offers only partial protection (50%) for a offers only partial protection (50%) for a short duration (two to six months). short duration (two to six months).

Some physicians feel that foreign Some physicians feel that foreign travelers almost never contract cholera travelers almost never contract cholera and that use of the current vaccine and that use of the current vaccine cannot be justified.cannot be justified.

~HOW CAN CHOLERA BE ~HOW CAN CHOLERA BE PREVENTED?~PREVENTED?~

The single most important preventive The single most important preventive measure is to avoid consuming measure is to avoid consuming uncooked foods or water in foreign uncooked foods or water in foreign countries where cholera occurs countries where cholera occurs unless they are known to be safe or unless they are known to be safe or have been properly treated.have been properly treated.

~HOW THE DISEASE WILL ~HOW THE DISEASE WILL AFFECT US IN THE FUTURE?AFFECT US IN THE FUTURE?

~~ Only if U.S.citizens travels to other foreign countries.Only if U.S.citizens travels to other foreign countries. Haiti has been trying to fight the bacteria that already Haiti has been trying to fight the bacteria that already

killed 250 people. killed 250 people. http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/299371http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/299371

Resources: Google Health-cholera, In Haiti, capital Resources: Google Health-cholera, In Haiti, capital braces for a cholera braces for a cholera outbreak-NYTimes.com,https://health.google.com/heaoutbreak-NYTimes.com,https://health.google.com/health/ref/graphic/1090lth/ref/graphic/1090